Sedona: Bell Trail

This popular trail starts as a wide gravel path, then narrows. In wetter years, wildflowers streak the hillsides. Staying on a bench above the creek, the trail cuts between two distinct habitats -- rocky desert slopes break apart against the riparian ramparts of mighty cottonwoods and sycamores.

Several well-used social paths lead down to deep pools and smooth beaches. Hikers are treated to nice red-rock panoramas along the way. A few signed trails break off, heading deeper into the wilderness. After passing the Weir Trail at 2.1 miles, the Bell Trail steepens, climbing onto angled slickrock before dropping down to cross the creek at 3.3 miles. You need go no farther.

Just upstream from Bell Crossing, one of the state's legendary swimming holes awaits. Deep water carves an exquisite 70-foot-long channel between narrow sandstone walls. This slice of watery real estate is known as the Crack. A triangle of rock positioned over the sweet spot makes a great diving platform.

Where: From central Phoenix, take Interstate 17 north to the Sedona exit (Exit 298) and turn right on Forest Road 618. Drive 1.5 miles to FR 618A, turn left and continue to the trailhead parking lot.

Tip: An excellent swimming hole for youngsters -- a pool 50 feet by 30 feet, with a rope swing -- can be found next to the Beaver Creek Campground, a quarter-mile from the trailhead.

Grand Canyon: North Kaibab Trail

This is not your typical tote-a-cooler-to-the-swimming-hole kind of stroll. In fact, do not attempt this as a day hike.

But anyone who is up to the challenge of a steep Canyon hike will fall in love with delicate Ribbon Falls, a magical oasis that looks as if it were borrowed from a tropical island.

In the middle of this sweltering, exhausting Canyon, a silvery spray of water tumbles down rock walls in a picturesque grotto. Footsore hikers can stand in the pool at the base of a moss-covered boulder and enjoy the frothy crescendo. You can even climb up behind the falls and sit in the shade while viewing the Grand Canyon through the shimmering veil.

The trail plunges steeply for the first 4.7 miles, dropping to the junction of Roaring Springs Canyon and Bright Angel Creek. The grade eases over the next 2 miles as you trace the creek to Cottonwood Campground. (Note: Crews may be working in this area to repair damage from a ruptured water pipe that washed out a section of trail on May 31. Proceed with caution.) A spur trail to Ribbon Falls branches off just over a mile below the campground, crossing the creek on a footbridge.

Where: From central Phoenix, take Interstate 17 north to Flagstaff, then I-40 through the city to U.S. 89, where you go about 110 miles north toward Page. At Bitter Springs, bear left on U.S. 89A and go 55 miles to Jacob Lake. Turn left on Arizona 67 and drive 43 miles to the signed trailhead.

Tip: Treat yourself to a meal at Grand Canyon Lodge. The restaurant's picture windows frame stunning views of the Canyon. The menu features old favorites such as meatloaf and roasted chicken as well as contemporary and regional offerings such as fresh Utah trout. Reservations are advisable. Sack lunches are available to fortify you on your hike. 877-386-4383, www.grandcanyonlodgenorth.com.

Camp Verde: West Clear Creek Trail

Tumbling from the forested heights of the Mogollon Rim, West Clear Creek slices a deep, narrow gash through sandstone cliffs. Winding for 30 miles and up to 2,000 feet deep in places, West Clear Creek is the longest of the Rim's drainages. The waterway forms a slender riparian corridor that barely keeps the spiny desert at bay. If possible, go during the week. The easy access to lush pools and shade as soft and moist as sponge cake lures big crowds.

The trail cuts across the old Bull Pen Ranch for about a mile before dipping into the canyon, where you encounter the first of four stream crossings. An especially sweet swimming hole with a sandy beach early on siphons off a portion of the hordes.

The deeper into the canyon you go, the more solitude you'll find. After the fourth stream crossing, the trail pulls away from the water and soon begins a series of steep switchbacks up the Mogollon Rim. Unless you need a hard-core workout, make the last crossing your turnaround point. Amble back the way you came, enjoying the miracle of water and shade in the desert.

Admission: From Phoenix, take Interstate 17 north to Camp Verde. Go east on Arizona 260 for 6 miles to Forest Road 618. Turn left and drive 2.2 miles to FR 215. Turn right and continue about 3 miles to the Bull Pen Ranch Trailhead. FR 215 can be rough and is best managed in a high-clearance vehicle.

Tip: West Clear Creek isn't the only watering hole in the area. The Horn Saloon in historical downtown Camp Verde serves a wide selection of craft beers and wines. The menu doesn't resemble a typical bar offering. Instead, it promises treats such as crab cakes, prime-rib sliders and flatbread pizza du jour. 348 S. Main St. 928-567-7229, www.thehornsaloon.com.

Winkelman: Aravaipa Canyon

Southeast of Globe, a perennial stream has carved a trough up to 1,000 feet deep in the Galiuro Mountains.

Aravaipa Canyon twists a verdant ribbon through harsh desert. High cliff walls adorned with cactus overlook this splashy oasis, home to a diverse population of wildlife, including bighorn sheep. The canyon stretches for 11 miles, so you can day hike a stretch of it or backpack for a night or two and explore the many side canyons.

Either way, a permit is required; a limited number are issued each day. Call the Bureau of Land Management Safford Field Office at 928-348-4400.

The trail is more theoretical than real. Follow the streambed as best you can. There will be bits and pieces of trail hugging the water, but wading the creek is the only option in most places.

You'll start in mixed habitat, with desert plants crowding in among the water-loving trees. After a couple of miles the walls rise and you're amid some of the loveliest scenery in Arizona. If you're day hiking, leave plenty of time to walk out before dark. If you're overnighting, camp above a previous high-water mark to stay out of the path of flash floods.

Where: From Phoenix, take U.S. 60 east to Superior. Take Arizona 177 south to Winkelman and Arizona 77. Follow Arizona 77 for 11 miles to Aravaipa Road. Turn left and proceed 12 miles to the West Trailhead, along a paved and graded dirt road. From the trailhead it is a 1.5-mile hike through Nature Conservancy land to the wilderness boundary.

Tip: Aravaipa Canyon is not as far from civilization as it seems, thanks to Across the Creek at Aravaipa Farms. This delightful bed-and-breakfast offers five colorful casitas overflowing with artistic flourishes and gourmet meals in a pristine setting just 3 miles from the wilderness preserve. It's a pretty swell base camp. 89395 Aravaipa Road. 520-357-6901, www.aravaipafarms.com.